RAC Awards $30,000 To 17 Artists In Its Second Round Of Artists Support Grants

January 3, 2014

January 3, 2014 – St. Louis – The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) awarded $30,000 to 17 artists as part of the Artists Support Grants. This grant is a new grants initiative which was initiated in 2013. The first round was announced last summer. The second and final round for 2013 was announced in December. A total of $80,000 has been awarded to 42 artists in 2013. The initiative was created based on results of the RAC sponsored Artists Count survey conducted in 2012. The survey was funded by The Kresge Foundation. It indicated that the most pressing need of regional artists was financial support in order to pursue their art and their careers.

The RAC Artists Support Grants are designed to provide direct funds for artists’ projects, needs, and creative opportunities in all disciplines. Direct support enables diverse artists of all disciplines to advance their careers. It is designed to be flexible and accessible and to encourage creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustained commitment to artistic work.

The commitment to support artists is inherent in RAC’s vision to transform St.Louis into a more creative and economically thriving community through elevating the vitality,value and visibilityofthe arts.

The recipients, representing the disciplines of literature, theater, visual arts, dance, music and multi-media, were selected from among 103 applicants after being reviewed by RAC commissioners and staff. The Commission views these grant programs as an essential step toward developing direct, comprehensive and sustainable support for our region’s artists. The grants range from $584 to $3000 for a variety of projects.

Artists receiving grants are:

Amy Reidel (Visual artist)

Brett Williams (Visual artist/sound installation artist)

Carrie Becker (Visual artist/installation/photographer

Garry McMichael (Visual artist/digital)

Jeane Vogel (Visual artist)

Joe Taylor (Music/film/performance artist)

Joshua Rowan (Visual artist/videographer)

Margie P. Hollins (Playwright)

Michael Jantzen (Architect)

Michael Powell (Media artist)

Mike Bezemek (Writer).

Patrick Grosch (Musician)

Sarah Jones (Writer)

Shari LeKane-Yentumi (Writer/educator)

Sylvester Jacobs (Photographer)

William Burton (Visual artist)

The next round of Artists Support Grants opens for applications in January 2014. Find the application and deadline information at www.art-stl.com/artistscount.

If you have any questions about Artists Support Grants, please contact Roseann Weiss, Director of Community and Public Arts, at roseann@stlrac.org or 314-863-5811.

About the Regional Arts Commission www.art-stl.comThe Regional Arts Commission (RAC) is at the forefront of efforts to transform St. Louis into a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community by elevating the vitality, value and visibility of the arts. As the largest annual funder of the arts in the region, since its inception in 1985, RAC has awarded more than 6,000 grants totaling over $80 million to support nonprofit arts, individual artists, cultural organizations, consortiums and programs. Directed by a board of 15 commissioners appointed by the chief executives of St. Louis City and County, RAC is a pivotal force in the continuing development and marketing of the arts in the region. www.art-stl.com Visit our cultural calendar www.ArtsZipper.com or follow us on FACEBOOK at Regional Arts Commission or TWITTER at RACStLouis.